Collapse of Lord Semple's Gathering Company

[ThistleDown]

If this has already been posted elsewhere and I missed it, or if I am posting to the wrong forum Mods do your thing.

Lord Semple's 2009 Gathering Company has advanced into administration. Sad because, as is always the way in these things, it's the wee unsecured creditor who is left with the empty bag.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/s...st/8485152.stm

Rex too

[Paul]

There were other aspects of the financial situation of The Gathering captured within other thread, though there was nothing is recent as this.

It's ashame that it ended like this. I think next time round it should be purely funded by The Scottish Government and Edinburgh City Council, and not be privatised again. After all - Edinburgh benefited greatly from the amount of people who showed from elsewhere and supported both the event and local businesses.

[ThistleDown]

It's ashame that it ended like this. I think next time round it should be purely funded by The Scottish Government and Edinburgh City Council, and not be privatised again. After all - Edinburgh benefited greatly from the amount of people who showed from elsewhere and supported both the event and local businesses.

We must remember that this idea, its production and, ultimately, its collapse, was that of a limited liabilty company. Within the production there were those who benefited greatly, some financially and some in terms of status. I would think that it was Lord Semple's idea that he should be a participant in both aspects; I suspect that he was paid a healthy salary to the end, but that his reputation as an opportunist has not been improved by his performance on this occasion. There is little that can be done about this other than to remember in the future.

Many (I think "most" might be going too far) Scots questioned the concept from the beginning; certainly most Scots who are members of this forum did. Lord Semple played his game well, however, by drawing in societies from countries where individual entrepreneurship is more highly prized than it is in Scotland. As these societies climbed aboard the bandwagon they forced the chiefs and many local organisations to join in or be left by the wayside. Most paid their way -- some quite highly -- in order not to be shamed by their absence. Eventually almost all were caught up in the hype and some even used their considerable influence to further Lord Semple's game. Two examples of this: the largest ever meeting of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs and the appearance of the Duke of Rothesay at the Gathering.

We must also remember that it was not Lord Semple's idea to lose money for himself or anyone else, or that small contributors should fail to receive what they were promised. He was simply inept at the level of expenditure control necessary to conduct such an event. As Paul said, these things in Scotland are best done by government or dedicated groups of not-for-profit individuals so that cost overruns are automatically covered by the taxpayers or by fund-raising efforts.

Rex, too

[Galician]

...Lord Semple played his game well, however, by drawing in societies from countries where individual entrepreneurship is more highly prized than it is in Scotland...

...As Paul said, these things in Scotland are best done by government or dedicated groups of not-for-profit individuals so that cost overruns are automatically covered by the taxpayers or by fund-raising efforts.

While nicely stated, this attitude is guaranteed to raise the hackles of significant--and vocal--elements of American society. There are those who cannot imagine that having an event publicly run would not automatically lead to the financial chaos which occured here. The private sector is believed to be always far more efficient than the public. You betcha!

[ThistleDown]

While nicely stated, this attitude is guaranteed to raise the hackles of significant--and vocal--elements of American society. There are those who cannot imagine that having an event publicly run would not automatically lead to the financial chaos which occured here. The private sector is believed to be always far more efficient than the public. You betcha!

Yes, perhaps, but the 2009 Gathering company is a private enterprise incorporated in Scotland for the express purpose of producing a profit from an event held in Scotland.

[Jock Scot]

Yes, perhaps, but the 2009 Gathering company is a private enterprise incorporated in Scotland for the express purpose of producing a profit from an event held in Scotland.

It is a shame that the locals were by in large forgotten and maybe, just maybe, that might have turned the event into a profit making enterprise had they been made welcome.Too late now of course, but lessons will I am sure have been learned by many people. However, I do think that we should be careful in laying blame, when ALL the facts are not known to us.

[McClef]

It was not the first private sector mess up in the world though...

Ticket prices were far too high and put many off to begin with.

[Mael Coluim]

A sad epilogue to a wonderful event.

[MacBean]

I can understand why people got upset that they lost money (and work) in the efforts to be welcoming. It feels a bit to me like hospitality gone sour....I suppose there was no way to have the tourists contribute?

[Jock Scot]

That is not good news for all concerned and I am genuinely sorry to hear that it has gone the way it has, but I can't say that I am surprised.